Jan. 9, 2015

Wendell T. Strickland
BLACKSHEAR — Wendell Tarver Strickland, 74, of Blackshear, passed away early Wednesday morning (Jan. 7, 2015) at the Pierce County Nursing Home following a short illness.
Born in Patterson Jan. 25, 1940, he lived in Pierce County all of his life. He was a 1957 graduate of Blackshear High School where he was a member of the state championship basketball team for 1957 and was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked as a salesman for mobile homes and recreational vehicles and was a member of Blackshear First Baptist Church.
He was a huge sports enthusiast who loved Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Falcons. He also loved to fish and was a great friend to a lot of people.
He was a son of the late Preston Lemuel and Nell Dixon Strickland.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Anna and Bill Raulerson, of Blackshear; two sons and daughters-in-law, Tarver and Janet Strickland Jr., of Patterson, and Serge and Kim Strickland, of Blackshear; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Bobby and Judy Strickland, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Loren and Marianna Strickland, of Gainesville, Ga.; six grandchildren, Emily Erin Strickland, Kelly Nichole Strickland, Sierra Dayne Strickland, Preston Hardt Strickland, Cameron Raulerson and Natalie Raulerson; a special friend, Denny Taylor; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Blackshear Cemetery.
Memorialization will be by cremation.
The family will receive friends at the home of his daughter, Anna Raulerson, 912 Jane St., Blackshear, this evening from 6 until 8 o’clock.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, Ga. 31501 or to the Southeast Cancer Unit, P.O. Box 2764, Waycross, Ga. 31502.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.pearsondial.com
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lilly Johnson
Lilly Johnson, the daughter of the late George and Willie Kennedy, who preceded her in death, was born July 12, 1940.
After a lengthy illness she departed this life on Friday (Jan. 2, 2015) at the Kindred Care Hospital, Green Grove Springs Fla.
She graduated from Center High School in Waycross, class of 1956.
She was employed by BellSouth where she worked for many years until she retired. She later moved to New York City and then back home to Waycross.
She was a member of the Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Kingdom Hall Waycross, located at 1500 South Georgia Parkway, Waycross.
She leaves to cherish her memories, two devoted sons, Michael and Gregory (Tamerra) Garard; one sister, Marlene J. Wilson, of Albany; grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Waycross Saturday at 2 p.m.

Ernestine Smith Miles
A funeral for Ernestine Smith Miles was held Thursday morning at Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Virlon Griner officiating.
Burial followed in Greenlawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Kyle Chancey, Cullen Chancey, Caleb Lynn, Randy Miles, Matthew Johns, Austin Henderson, Cammeron Brewer and Courtland Brewer.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.